Apparatus for annealing glassware



June 5, 1934. H WADMAN 1,961,512

APPARATUS FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE Filed March 16, 1932 in 0 en i or: 9wwzawmzdmm A Horn 63 43.

Patented J une 5, 1934 UNIT-ED 7 STATES H 1,961,512 APPARATUS FORANNEALING GLASSWARE' Harold A. Wadman, West Hartford, Court, as-

signor to Hartford-Empire Company, Hartford,

Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application March 16, 1932, Serial No.599,097

'4 Claims.

- This invention relates to apparatus for anneal ing glassware, and moreparticularly to a tunnel type glass annealing leer having a peculiar andnovel arrangement of temperature gradient con- 5 trol along the leer andalso being provided with self cleaning arrangements by which any culletor other foreign matter which may be deposited in the lower portion ofthe leer by sifting through the conveyor, or otherwise, will beautomatically removed therefrom into a suitable receptacle from which itmay be easily and quickly disposed of.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a means usable inconnection with the return strand of an endless conveyor, such as iscommonly used in glass annealing leers, for deflecting from the uppersurface of this return strand any large pieces of cullet or'any foreignmatter which may be thereon into a suitable receptacle from which thiscullet or otherforeign matter may be easily removed, thus preventingdamage to the leer conveyor by reason of cullet becoming jammed betweenthe belt and the roll or rolls about which the conveyor passes betweenits returning course and its ware-bearing course.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a leer of thecharacter above described, and particularly one in which theware-bearing strand of the conveyor and the supports therefor are ofopen work structure and are spaced from the bottom of the tunnel, ameans for carrying any fine'cullet or other foreign matter which mightotherwise accumulate on the tunnel bottom to a suitable place from whichit may be quickly and easily removed, thus preventing clogging of theleer tunnel at regions difficult of access.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will become apparentfrom the reading of the following specification and sub-joined claimswhen taken in connection with the accompanying 40 drawing, in which:Figures 1 and 2 together comprise a diagrammatic central verticalsection longitudinally of a glass annealing leer embodying my invention,the structure of Fig. 2 being a continuation of that of Fig. 1 at theright thereof, as seen in the drawing; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary planview, with parts broken away and in section, showing certain structureat the front or ware-receiving end of the leer and particularly thearrangement and construction of the cullet deflector and receptacle, theview being on an enlarged scale as compared with Figs. 1 and 2, andcertain of the leer parts being shown in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 44of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the lee-r as seenfrom the right in Fig. 3.

Referring first to' Figs. 1 and 2, I have chosen to show my invention asapplied to a leer comprising an elongate tunnel 1 which may be built toup of a plurality of substantially interchangeable sections 2, thesections being constructed in a suitable and desired manner and beingsupported preferably with provision for expansion, as in the MulhollandPatent 1,560,481, granted Nov. 3, 1925, the supports for the tunnel notbeing shown in the accompanying drawing. Surrounding the sections 2 ofthe tunnel 1 is an insulating layer 3, part of which is shown, and whichmay also surround the sides and/or the bottom of the. tunnel as in theusual practice. Ware is conveyed through the tunnel 1 by an endless belt4 driven in any suitable manner, as that shown in the Mulholland patentabove referred to, (the driving means not being shown in the presentdrawing). As shown the ware-bearing strand of the conveyor 4 issupported in its course through the tunnel 1 upon a suitable open worksupporting structure here illustrated as including transverse I-beams 5in the hotter portions of the tunnel and rollers 6 in the coolerportions thereof, the conveyor support including both the I-beams andthe rollers being spaced from the bottom of the tunnel. The returnstrand of the conveyor 4, as shown, passes to the forward orware-receiving 5 end of the tunnel beneath the wareebearing strand, butinside the tunnel and, as shown, in sliding contact with the floor orbottom thereof. At the forward end of the tunnel the conveyor 4 passesabout a roller 7 suitably journaled in brackets 8 rigid with the tunnelstructure.

Means are provided for controlling the temperature gradient within thetunnel and consequently that of the ware in its passage there- 1through, comprising a longitudinally extending flue 9 disposed beneaththe tunnel and having a common wall with the floor thereof, the flue 9being divided into a plurality of parallel fiues by suitablelongitudinally extending partitions, as in the Mulholland patent abovereferred to, if desired. Heated gases are supplied to the flue 9 by afire box 10, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, these gasesbeing generated by combustion of fluid fuel injected into the fire boxby the burner 11 and also being preferably diluted with desiredcontrollable amounts of air for controlling the temperature of gasessupplied to the flue 9, all as illustrated in the aforesaid Mulhollandpatent.

In annealing certain types of ware it is desirabox, as illustrated inFig. 1.

ble that the ware be carried through the tunnel in a path spaced abovethe bottom thereof rather than immediately adjacent thereto,: as in theMulholland patent above referred to. For this reason the bottom of thetunnel and hence the path of the flue 9 to the right of the point 12(Fig. 1) is shown as spaced a material distance beneath the path of theware upon the warebearing strand of the conveyor 4. Also in order tosupply gases evenly to the flue 9 transversely thereof and for purposesof convenience, it is desired that the fire box 10 be positioned beneaththe ware-receiving end of the leer. Thus, the portion of the flue 9between the point 12 and the fire box 10 is inclined upwardly toward thefire The inclination of this portion has, however, the'further functionin that it provides for a decreasing temperature gradient in thecorresponding portions of the tunnel, due to the difference in thelengths of the paths'for heat radiation and convection between the flue9 and the ware upon the ware-bearing strand of the conveyor 4.

Means are provided in connection with the portion of the flue 9 to theright of the point 12 (as seen in Figs. 1 and 2) for controlling thetemperature gradient in this portion of the flue, such means comprisinga plurality of air inlet openings 13 each controlled by a damper 14. Thegases are withdrawn from the flue 9 through an inclined passage 15 andsaddle pipes 16, one on each side of the leer, to a wind box 17, fromwhich they are exhausted by a fan 18 driven from any suitable source ofpower, as the motor 19. Thus it will be seen that the flue 9 iscontinuously under subatmospheric pressure, so that air may be drawninto the flue 9 through any of the passages 13 under control of thedampers 14, and the temperature gradient of the gases in the flue andconsequently that of the ware in corresponding zones of the tunnel maybe controlled. The portion of the flue 9 to the right of the outletpassage 15, as seen in Fig. 2, may communicate with the atmospherethrough a passage20 controlled by a damper 21, this passage beinglocated immediately adjacent to the exit end of the leer, thus providinga section of the flue 9 through which atmospheric air may be drawncountercurrent to the movement of the ware for the purpose of coolingit. The total flow of temperature con-' trolling media through the flue9 may be controlled by a damper 22 in the passage 15.

In order to assist in the abstraction of heat from the ware, there isprovided above the tunnel and extending from the exit end thereof amaterial distance toward the entrance end, a flue 23, similar to theflue 9, and having a common wall with the roof of the tunnel. This flueis open to the atmosphere at the exit end of the tunnel as indicated at24. Means are provided for withdrawing controllable amounts of coolingair from the flue 23 at intervals therealong, comprising passages 25,controlled respectively by dampers 26, which communicatewith a take-offconduit 27, which in turn communicates with the wind box 17 and thencewith the fan 18.

The general arrangements for temperature control of the flues 9 and 23,with the exception of the position and specific arrangement of. the flue9 with respect to the ware path, are disclosed in the Mulholland patentabove referred to, and hence, perse, form no part of the presentinvention.

In some instances it may be desirable to control the flow of currents ofair within the tunnel, particularly between the ware-bearing and returnstrands of the conveyor 4. For this purpose I have shown a plurality ofadjustable dampers 28 which are adapted to control longitudinal fiow ofsuch currents. As shown these dampers are pivoted at their lower ends,but it will be understood that this is not essential in practice,'itbeing desired merely'that there be dampers located substantially asshown and that they be adjustable.

Some difliculty has previously been experienced with the clogging of theleers, particularly where open work conveyor belts such as the wovenwire belts now in common use were employedin con-,

junction with relatively open. belt supporting means, due to smallpieces of cullet sifting down through the openings of the ware-bearingstrand of the belt and between the openings of the belt support andbecoming lodged upon the floor of the tunnel thus hindering to someextent the desired heat transfer, and in some instances hindering theoperation of the conveyors. It is my purpose to provide against such anoccurrence and in'effeet to provide a self cleaning leer. To this end Ipreferably pass the return strandof the conveyor 4 through the tunnelbeneath the warebearing strand and in sliding contact with the floorthereof, so that any fine cullet or any other f oreign, material whichmay sift through the warebearing strand of the conveyor and fall ontothe floor of the'tunnel will be moved forwardly by. the return strand ofthe conveyor to a point where it may be collected and permanentlyremoved from the leer. Thus in the construction shown, the return strandof the conveyor 4 is'in sliding contact with the floor of the tunnelthroughout substantially its entire length. Adjacent to the forward endof the leer and beneath the return strand of the conveyor is a cullet orrefuse receptacle generally indicated at 29, which is formed asa-compartment in the forwardend of the leer structure, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4, and which is provided with an inclined rear wall30 which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the leerstructure. This receptacle is provided with one or more clean-out doors31, preferably one at each end thereof normally secured in closedposition by a suitable latch or other securing device 32. Thus cullet orany other waste material which accumulates in the receptacle 29 may beremoved from time to time through the openings closed by doors 31.

Another difficulty which has arisen and which has at times causedconsiderable damage to leer conveyors is that relatively large pieces ofcullet or other large rigid material finds its way onto the uppersurface of the return strand of the conveyor and becomes jammed betweenit and the roll or, rolls about which the conveyor ,must pass beforeembarking upon its active or ware-bearing course.

To overcome this difficulty, I have provided a'de-- flector adjacent tothe ware-entering end o the leer and cooperating with the retumstrand ofthe conveyor just before it passes about the first of the rollers (ifthere be several), in the present instance about the roller'7. Whilethis deflector could be inclined from one side of the belt all the wayto the other side, I have chosen to illustrate it as a V-shapeddeflector, shown at 33, having its apex 34 directed toward the exit endof the leer and positioned above and closely adjacent to the uppersurface of the return strand of the conveyor 4. Thus, any relativelylarge pieces of cullet will be moved laterally by. the conjoint actionof the conveyor 4 and the deflector 33 and will be deposited in thereceptacle v29 at the lateral edges suitably and preferably rigidlysecured to the lower side of a rigid box-like structure 36, including aplate 37 over which the ware-bearing strand of the conveyor 4 passes,the structure 36 being suitably secured at its lateral edges to the leerstructure in any desired manner. Thus, the deflector 33 will be heldrigidly in position to deflect large pieces of cullet into thereceptacle 29.

While I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, itwill be obvious that certain changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, and certain minor features may be ofutility of themselves apart from the entire combination. I do not wishto be limited, therefore, except by the scope of the appended claims,which are to be construed as broadly as the state of the prior artpermits.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for annealing glassware, comprising an elongate tunnel, anendless open work conveyor for moving articles of glasswaretherethrough, means for supporting the ware-bearing strand of saidconveyor above the bottom of said tunnel and for returning the idlestrand thereof to the entrance end of the leer inside said tunnel andalong and in sliding contact with the bottom thereof, and a culletreceptacle positioned beneath the return or idle strand of said conveyoradjacent to the ware-entering end of said tunnel for the receipt of finecullet or foreign material from within the tunnel which has fallen tothe bottom thereof and has been moved forwardly by the idle strand ofsaid conveyor.

2. Apparatus for annealing glassware, comprising an elongate tunnel, anopen work conveyor support intermediate the top and bottom of saidtunnel, an endless conveyor having its ware-bearing strand movableacross said support and its idle strand returning to the entrance end ofsaid tunnel along and at all places in contact with the floor thereof,the bottom of said tunnel being free from abrupt changes in level, and awaste receptacle located beneath the idle strand of said conveyoradjacent to the forward or ware-receiving end of said tunnel for thereceipt of any fine cullet or other foreign matter sifting down from theware carrying strand of said tunnel and through said open work supportonto the floor thereof and moved forwardlyalong the floor of the tunnelby the idle strand of said conveyor.

3. Apparatus for annealing glassware, comprising an elongate tunnel, anopen work conveyor supporting means in the tunnel spaced above the floorthereof, an endless conveyor of open work material for moving articlesof glassware through said tunnel having its ware-bearing strand carriedby said supporting means and its idle strand in sliding contact with thefloor of said tunnel substantially throughout its course therethrough,re ceptacle means positioned beneath and partially also at one side ofthe return strand of said con.- veyor adjacent to the ware-entering endof said tunnel, at least one roller about which said conveyor passesintermediate its return course and its ware-bearing course, and a culletdeflector positioned above and closely adjacent to the upper surface ofthe return strand of said conveyor in front of said roller and adjacentthereto. whereby fine cullet or other foreign material which siftsthrough the ware bearing strand of said conveyor through said supportingmeans will be carried along'the floor of said tunnel by the returnstrand of said conveyor-and deposited in said receptacle means, andwhereby any larger pieces of cullet or other foreign material which arecarried forwardly of said tunnel upon the upper surface of the returnstrand of said conveyor will be deflected laterally by said deflectorand pass into said recep tacle means, thus keeping said tunnel free ofcullet and preventing damage to said conveyor by large pieces of culletbeing jammed between the return strand of the conveyor and said roller.

4. Apparatus for annealing glassware, comprising an elongate tunnel,open work conveyor supporting means spaced from the floor thereof, anendless open work conveyor "having its ware-bearing strand carried bysaid supporting means and its idle strand returning to the ware-enteringend of said tunnel in sliding contact with'the floor thereof throughoutits length, at least one roller about which said conveyor passes at theentrance end of said tunnel between its return course and itsware-bearing course, a V-shape deflector positioned above but closelyadjacent to the upper surface of the return strand of said conveyorimmediately prior to its passage about said roller, and a culletreceptacle positioned transversely of said tunnel adjacent to theware-entering end thereof and adapted to-receive fine cullet and otherforeign material moved forwardly along the floor of said tunnel by saidconveyor and also adapted to receive larger cullet or other foreignmaterial deflected from the upper surface of said conveyor by saiddeflector, whereby saidtunnel is maintained free of cullet and wherebydamage to said conveyor by large pieces of. foreign material becominglodged between said conveyor and said roller is prevented. I

HAROLD A. WADMAN.

